Sealing strip



Feb. 9, 1960 c, MORTON ET AL 2,923,983

SEALING STRIP Filed March 27, 1957 M O C /A/1/Nrd/P$ HENRY 6. MORTON Auaarr MAN/v A I'OR/VEY Uni SEALING STRIP Application March 27, 1957, Serial No. 648,959

2 Claims. ((11. 20-69) This invention relates to sealing strips for doors, bulkheads, partitions or the like and more particularly to a lightweight sealing strip of the above type for use in aircraft.

An object of the invention is to provide a lightweight flexible, fireproof sealing strip having novel and improved characteristics.

In accordance with the present invention the sealing strip is comprised of an asbestos tape formed with a tubular section at one side edge with a flat flange projecting therefrom. The tape is impregnated with a fireproof compound such as neoprene, silicone or polyurethane or other heat resistant resins.

To improve the resilience of the tubular section an especially formed wire spring is inserted therein around a core of heat resistant fibers such as aluminum silicate fibers, which reduce the rate of heat transfer along the metal of the spring.

The features of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sealing strip embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the strip with the spring and core therein;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a wire from which the spring is wound; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the coiled spring and core.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the strip is formed from an asbestos tape which is rolled to form a tubular portion along one edge with overlapped flanges 11 projecting laterally therefrom. The tape is irnpregnated with a heat resistant resin as set forth above which bonds the overlapped flanges 11 together into a rigid unitary structure.

Patented Feb. 9, 1960 The spring 15 is made from a wire 14 which is crimped in a gear crimper to form a succession of angle bends 13 with intervening straight legs 12. The wire 14 is coiled in such a manner that the legs 12 lie in the peripheral surface of the coil 15 with the angles 13 extend ing longitudinally of the coil.

This arrangement of the crimped wire causes the angular crimps to resist the flattening of the coils by transverse pressure and also improves its resilience and its ability to recover from such deformations. The crimped wire also improves the flexibility of the spring in all directions and improves its ability to flex to conform to uneven surfaces.

The coiled spring 15 is wound around a core of refractory fibers to further improve the recovery of the spring after deformation and to reduce the rate of heat transfer along the wire or through the tubular section 10.

The sealing strip above described possesses high flexibility in all directions, is light in weight and fireproof. As such it is particularly adapted to use in aircraft. The invention may, of course, be adapted to various uses as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A lightweight, flexible, fireproof sealing strip for sealing bulkheads, doors and the like, which comprises a core composed of heat resistant fibers, a spring wire wrapped around said core in the form of a helix, said wire having crimps formed therein and lying wholly in the plane of the periphery of said core, said helix having a pitch such that the crimps of successive turns are substantially axially aligned and free from contact with each other and a fireproof asbestos fabric having a heat-resistant resin coating wrapped around said helix and having end portions sealed together to form a flange projecting laterally from said helix.

2. A sealing strip as set forth in claim 1 in which said heat resistant fibers are composed of aluminum silicate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,155 Johnson July 16, 1929 2,011,593 Renter Aug. 20, 1935 2,060,353 Tea Nov. 10, 1936 I 2,121,854 Breer June 28, 1938 2,137,697 Pierce Nov. 22, 1938 2,219,962 Reynolds et al Oct. 29, 1940 2,376,039 Driscoll et al May 15, 1945 2,667,684 Boyer et al. Feb. 2, 1954 2,703,771 Boulware et al. Mar. 18, 1955 2,766,055 Poltorak Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 554,021 Great Britain June 16, 1943 

